Some ingredients turn people off with mere mention; for many, one such ingredient is tofu. It’s really a shame because tofu is a chameleon ingredient that takes on any flavor it’s mixed with. I blame it on the fact there’s tons of crappy tofu in the grocery stores. That and because not enough people have had this recipe. The flavor of this rich, intensely chocolatey pudding is such a dead ringer for traditional chocolate pudding that’s it’s unbelievable that it’s made with tofu and dairy-free, hence the reason I named this “Unbelievable Chocolate Pudding.”

I came up with this recipe for a pudding-loving friend who’s dairy free and hoped it would be a decent replacement. What I didn’t anticipate is that it’d turn out so well that my omnivorous friends would request it on a regular basis. Not that I mind because this recipe requires a fraction of the effort and kitchen time of regular pudding, not to mention it’s lower in fat and calories, so it’s less of a guilty pleasure. Of course, none of that would matter if it didn’t taste so unbelievably good.

The double hit of melted chocolate and cocoa powder sends this dessert over the top. Serve the pudding on it's own, freeze it for dairy-free pudding pops, or spread it into a cookie crust or other pie crust for a simple chocolate pie.

Ingredients

Instructions

Place chocolate in a small saucepan over low heat and stir frequently until melted; set aside to cool slightly.Tip Use a good quality chocolate for easier melting and a smoother texture.

Combine all ingredients in a food processor fitted with a metal blade. Process, pausing to scrape down sides as needed, until mixture is smooth.Tip If you can't find agave nectar or brown rice syrup, honey will do nicely as well.

Transfer to an airtight container or individual serving dishes, cover, and refrigerate until chilled thoroughly, at least 30 minutes. Can be made up to 4 days ahead and stored in a refrigerated airtight container. Stir briefly before serving.

If I can fool my tofu-averse husband with this, then anything is possible.

http://www.aidamollenkamp.com Aida Mollenkamp

Hm, I’ll be awaiting his opinion…

http://profiles.google.com/dishingupdelights Dishing Up Delights

I want to try this. I’m starting to notice some issues with dairy so I want to look in to the tofu alternative.

http://www.aidamollenkamp.com Aida Mollenkamp

I hear you. I overindulged in cheese and all dairy when I lived in France so I’ve had to also learn to have it in moderation.

Heather christo

I’m gonna take your word for it on the tofu! This pudding looks luscious and silky smooth!

http://www.aidamollenkamp.com Aida Mollenkamp

Yes, Heather, the texture is really nice though it does get firm once it sits.

http://twitter.com/AllisonnTweets Allison in LA

Nice! Every year for Lent, I go vegan so I cannot wait to devour these now AND during Lent next year. I’ll pass on this recipe to my vegan and lactose intolerant friends.

http://www.aidamollenkamp.com Aida Mollenkamp

Perfect, Allison. Glad I could contribute to the Lenten menu.

http://j3nn.net j3nn

That looks incredible! I’ve never used tofu as a base but I have used avocado. Yum!

http://www.aidamollenkamp.com Aida Mollenkamp

Oh, yum. I’ve heard of using avocado but haven’t done it myself. We should swap recipes!

Georgia Pellegrini

My grandmother uses tofu also for pudding and I just adore it. Love that you’re sharing this!

http://www.aidamollenkamp.com Aida Mollenkamp

Georgia, you’re grandmother is seriously the coolest!

http://www.kitchentravels.com Dawn – Kitchen Travels

That photo is worth a thousand words. The pudding looks so dark-and-creamy-chocolate-y! Tofu is an amazing ingredient. Last T-Day I made a dairy-free pumpkin pie with tofu, and even my husband’s tofu-adverse family said it was the best they’d ever had. Cannot wait to try this recipe. Thank you!

http://www.aidamollenkamp.com Aida Mollenkamp

Thanks, Dawn. I also make a tofu pumpkin pie and have had success with it too!

claire

try an avocado + 1/2 cup of raw honey + cocoa powder to taste and then puree it all together. best.chocolate.pudding.ever. (trust me, if its smooth you won’t even know there’s a vegetable in there.)

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